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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. Getting counties through a cash crunch brought on by the education funding crisis. Plus. the campaign to invest millions of dollars in New Hampshire's aging University System. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of state news. |
| County Help Return to index of stories... |
Some counties may find themselves short of cash - due to the recent court ruling making the statewide property tax unconstitutional. But Speaker of the house Gene Chander says legisative leaders will consider helping counties through the cash crisis. Now some counties have been forced to delay plans to issue bonds because they can't guarantee investors that the tax revenue will be available to repay the investment. Stay with us for a discussion on the school bonds crisis in just a few minutes. |
| HighTech-Tax Return to index of stories... |
At least one member of the New Hampshire High Technology Council would not have brought his company to New Hampshire had a state income tax been in place. The council held a press conference today to voice its opposition to an income tax as a way to fund public eduction. The organization says such a tax would significantly harm the state's businesses. The council says it represents 275 companies, which employ more than 26-thousand people. |
| Adoption Bill Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire lawmakers, who sponsored the original legislation to allow gays and lesbians to adopt children, now want to extend the right to gay couples. Under current law passed two years ago, children of unmarried couples could be taken away if the adoptive parent dies or the couple breaks up. The proposed bill would give equal rights and responsibilities to unmarried couples. Critics include the Catholic Church, which says the bill would undermine two-parent marriage-based families. |
| Voter Photo Return to index of stories... |
The next time you vote, you may need to show a picture i-d or sign an affidavit. That's if a proposal from Secretary of State William Gardner and a group of Republican lawmakers is passed. At a pulic hearing yesterday - several town officials said they knew some voters cheated, but others argued the proposal is unnecessary and might discriminate against people of color. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Some winter weather again made for a tricky ride home tonight for many people. A few minutes ago I spoke to Chief Meteorologist Sarah Curtis from the Mount Washington Observatory. She tells us what's in store for us overnight and tomorrow and how the weather looks on top of the mountain. |
| INTEREST RATES Return to index of stories... |
For the second time in a month, the Federal Reserve has moved to lower interest rates by half a point. Joining me now by phone to talk about what this means is Dennis Delay---senior economist with public service of new hampshire. |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
There was mixed reaction on Wall Street following the Fed's move. The Dow closed up six points. The Nasdaq tumbled more than 65. |
| STOCKS Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at some stocks of interest to New Hampshire. Cabletron was up 1 and a half. Fisher Scientific was down 1 and a quarter. Tyco International was also down 1. While Verizon was up 1. |
| Estate Tax Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire could lose more than 25 million dollars annually if the federal gift and estate tax is repealed. That proposal is part of the tax cutting package unveiled by President Bush. Officials fear the lost federal money would mean cutting state services or raising state taxes and fees. Pamela Walsh, a spokeswoman for Governor Jeanne Shaheen, says the state hopes Congress would consider very carefully any impact of its actions on state revenues. Congress voted to repeal the tax last year, but President Clinton vetoed it. |
| Smith Energy Return to index of stories... |
Should there be tax incentives for builders of energy-efficient homes and businesses? That's what NH Senator Bob Smith is proposing. Smith today introduced a bill he says would help consumers and save 80-billion dollars over the next decade. The bill would offer incentives and rewards to companies that produce efficient heating, cooling and water equipment. Smith says the nation needs to reduce its reliance on foreign oil. |
| Intro Bonds Return to index of stories... |
As we mentioned earlier, the state might step in and help counties facing a cash crisis in the wake of Judge Richard Galway's ruling on the statewide property tax. Now that the method of collecting money for schools has been ruled unconstitutional, county borrowing power is in jeopardy. Here to talk about what we're facing is Superintendent of the Oyster River Cooperative School District Dr. Thomas Carroll and joining me by phone George Zoukee executive director of the New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank. Mr. Zoukee, let's start with you. Can you explain what's at stake here? Why is it harder for districts to borrow money? |
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CG:LOWER3RD\On The Phone: George Zoukee\Executive Director of the NH Municipal Bond Bank 763-9560 |
| Thank guests Return to index of stories... |
I want to thank my guests joining us by phone George Zoukee Executive Director of the NH Municipal Bond Bank and here in the studio Dr. Thomas Carroll. |
| Intro KEEP Return to index of stories... |
Now for a look at higher education funding. New Hampshire ranks somewhere around 50th in the nation when it comes to state aid to our University System, and now some might say those chickens have come home to roost. The University System of N.H. has a bill in this legislative session to fund $185 million for infrastructure improvements over the next 6 years. As Chip Neal reports, the campaign is called "KEEP New Hampshire" and stands for Knowledge Economy Education Plan. |
| KEEP Pkg Return to index of stories... |
- Every two years the Bd of Trustees brings to the legislature the capital budget comm. our request for facilites renovation improvement or construction. Over the last several bi-annia we have recieved only a very small portion of what we have asked for.in those capial budget requests. so the bd of trustees decided after the last presentation we would try a new approach. That we would develope the full 6 year plan and present that to the legislature in the form of legislation seeking authorization to expend those moneys over the six year period. so the real challenge was for the trustees and the institutions to list their highest most urgent requests for renovation. this was done last spring and culminated in the list of 12 projects in the KEEP NH legislation. All of those requests for renovation and modernization are for facilities that are currently existing and that directly support engineering, science and technology and teacher education. One of the major projects included in this bill is $22 million for the renovation and expansion of the building behind me. It's Kingbury Hall and it is the University of New Hampshire's major engineering and technolgy center. Steve Reno VO shots of Kingsbury Hall - . Let's just look at Kingsbury Hall which is the venue for our science and engineering progams at UHN. It was opened in the late 40's it is a major teaching facility but it is in very serious need of renovation and modernization so serious is that need that the last visit of the accrediting agency registered their serious concern with the adequacy of the facility to support our engineering program. Chip VO. - Bob Henry, Professor of Civil Engineering explains the problems at Demerit Hall on the UNH Campus Bob Henry - Building built in 1914 and this is a power dist box that is at least 40 years old and it's still used to power a lot of the tables you see here for the experiments the students have to perform. All of the science students will come through this lab and spend two semesters. compared to what our competitiors have these are quite antiqauated. and it's difficult for us to recruit students this way. Even though our faculty is top notch and our research is top notch Prof. Bill Hurstman Physics VO shots of his lab trying to do stateof the art imaging,,, but trying to do it a room that is outdated. Trying to power up magnetic coils with wires from the street. OC Dust comes down from the ceilings contaminated our $60,000 laser. Thd room has been used for many different things. Just difficult to convert it over for high tech purposes. The students are very enthusiastic initially about getting opportunites to do research. and we have lots of federal $ to train them but they see our frustration and become frustrated themselves. So some of them leave with the feeling that doing research is frustrating rather than exciting. President Leitzel VO Murkland Hall - we're in Murkland Hall its one thatÕs heavily used for our social sciences for instruction 1400 student class sessions each year here. The building is full every day teach foreign languages here history social science. This building needs to be fully gutted. Leitzel OC - UNH has an aging physical plant, fortunately when these buildings were built they were built very well. But weÕre talking about buildings that are approaching 100 years old now. and their systems are outdated and inadequate and in some we have dangers of fire, we have the heating system going down. All those systems need to be replaced. In additoin we have ways of teaching students now that these buildings in their current condition can't accomodate. Besides Kingsbury, Demerit, and Murkland the other UNH campus projects are renovation of James Hall housing earth sciences, geography, and natural resources programs. Nesmith Hall furure home of Colege of Agriculture and Life Sciences.And Parson Hall housing Chemistry teaching and research programs. Also at UNH the south railroad underpass would be constructed and our own New Hampshire Public Television would recieve funds for conversion to digital technology as required by the FCC. At Keene State College the Mason Library would be completed. the Science Center would be renovated and enlarged. And their heating plant would be enlarged. At Plymouth State College Boyd Hall their only science facility would be renovated and expanded and they would get infrastructure improvements steam lines, handicap accessability. - One of the important features of KEEP NH woudl be that it would provide stability of funding over a 6 yrear period that would allow flexibility of management on the part of the university system. so if we were able to complete a project early and even under budget. WE would immediately be able to move into the next project and direct those savings into the next project. often now start projects with incomplete funds and have to stop half way then pick up when more funding comes this costs us extra. Chip VO - Rep. Jeb Bradley is the prime sponsor of this bill in House which has broad bi-partisan support. Bradley - A lot had been said about the fact that NH ranks 50th in terms of state support of its Univ. system. I'm not trying to address that with this bill and I don't believe the university system is either. What the Univ system, and the community and the business leaders are trying to say is that in the 21st century you have to have a science curriculum at UNH that is competitive with other schools nationally, you have to be able to attract the best and the brightest in order to have an educated workforce in the state. And again you get back to the fact that NH has the second highest percentage of high teck worker in the cournty. If we are to continue with that education is critical to that. So. that needs to be the role of the state, I think the reason we have such broad support for this bill, especially from the business community, is that business leaders from the state recognize that without an educated workforce particularly in the science and math and engineering fields the NH economy is going to be impacted over time. So that's why I'm hopeful that even despite Claremont we're going to be succesful this year. Pres. Leitzel - we have been pushing our capital needs ahead for many years and now we really are out of time. The accreditation of our engineering programs is in jepardy, we are not able to provide science facilities that our faculty and students need. This building is threatened by the fire marshall ItÕs an issue of considerable urgency to the university. Chancellor Reno - We would like to see NH step up from the bottom of the pack in terms of state funding. this would be a very important signal to the people of NH that the public university system plays a key role in workforce preparedness, and the quality of our teachers, and what we might call the pipeline to the workforce through science technology and mathematics. For New Hampshire Outlook, I'm Chip Neal |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. If you've got a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - Many NH businesses depend on venture capital to survive and grow including companies like Vitts Networks. In the wake of the shake up at Vitts we'll talk with New Hampshire economists and get their view on the success of these investments. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| McLaughlin Job Return to index of stories... |
A New Hampshire state representative is calling for the resignation of state Attorney General Philip McLaughlin. Windham Republican Anthony Difruscia says McLaughlin should step down because he said the state would reimburse taxpayers money from the statewide propoerty tax if that tax was declared unconstitutional. McLaughlin says the comments -- actually made in court by Senior Assistant Attorney General Ann Edwards -- were not an agreement to reimburse the money. Edwards says she made the comment generically. |
| Tag Polaroid Return to index of stories... |
The exhibit runs until April 18th at the University of New Hampshire's Art Gallery. |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Many NH businesses depend on venture capital to survive and grow including companies like Vitts Networks. In the wake of the shake up at Vitts we'll talk with the experts and get their view. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |